"The plan, like so many plans in life, was a fanciful, intricate, and doomed. The 49ers had it all mapped out. Their young defense, littered with baby faces, would undergo a baptism by fire. It would take its lumps, learn on the fly, and hopefully find its rhythm somewhere along the way. Meanwhile, the big four of the offense Brock Purdy, George Kittle, Trent Williams, and Christian McCaffrey would serve as a steady, high-octane crutch, grinding out wins and buying time."
"By late November, the two units would be humming in unison, a juggernaut no one wanted to face in January. In-house, they called it the Rams Plan. The hope was it would work like the last few seasons in Los Angeles that the slow, steady build would peak at just the right moment. And they were convinced it was going to work. Then came Week 1."
"All four of the Horsemen are on the injury report going into Sunday's Week 2 game with the Saints. Purdy is out with a mangled toe and a bum shoulder, putting a wrench in everything. Kittle is on injured reserve, gone until at least Week 6. Williams, for the first time in forever, looked less like a human bulldozer and more like a guy. And Christian McCaffrey? His health is a subject best discussed in hushed tones, lest you wake up those problematic calves."
The 49ers planned for a slow build: a young defense would learn early while the offense's leaders carried the team. Injuries to Brock Purdy, George Kittle, Trent Williams, and Christian McCaffrey derailed that plan before Week 2 against the Saints. Purdy is sidelined with toe and shoulder issues; Kittle is on injured reserve until at least Week 6; Williams showed diminished dominance; McCaffrey faces persistent calf concerns. In-house, the approach was dubbed the Rams Plan, modeled on Los Angeles's late-season peak. The team must flip the script and lean on Robert Saleh and the defense to carry the load.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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